Cartagena, 25 April 2022 (TDI): The Paraguayan President, Mario Abdo Benítez, paid a visit to Colombia to enhance bilateral ties. The President arrived in Colombia for a three-day visit on Friday and concluded his visit on Sunday.
The Vice President and Foreign Minister of Colombia, Marta Lucia Ramírez, received Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benítez in Cartagena.
Moreover, the Commander of the Caribbean Naval Force, Vice Admiral Juan Ricardo Rozo Obregón was also present to receive the President.
The Paraguayan delegation included the Minister Executive Secretary for the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Mariela Soledad Ramírez Burgos, and the Vice Minister of Economic Relations & Integration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Raúl Cano Ricciardi.
The Ambassador of Paraguay in Colombia, Sophia López Garelli, and 3 congressmen also accompanied them. Later, on Sunday, the Paraguayan delegation held a meeting with Colombian Businessmen.
The event was aimed at expanding the market for national production and exploring possibilities of attracting investment.
Meeting With Colombian President
Moreover, the President of Paraguay held a meeting with Colombian President Ivan Duque. The two leaders discussed economic reactivation, trade, investment, migration crisis, fight against drugs, and cooperation in defense and security matters.
Both countries signed two important agreements. Firstly, the Agreement for the Establishment of a Bilateral Mechanism for Dialogue and Cooperation on Human Rights was signed.
It allows the two countries to exchange information, experiences, and good practices in the field of human rights. Secondly, both nations signed the Agreement on reciprocal recognition of driving licenses.
Likewise, they also signed trade, investment, air connectivity, tourism, transportation, security, and defense agreements. In addition, Mario Abdo Benítez received the “Order of Boyacá” from President Ivan Duque.
The Order of Boyacá is the highest decoration that the Government of Colombia grants to foreign personalities. Previously, the Paraguayan President paid a visit to Colombia in 2019.
Colombia-Paraguay Relations
Both Countries were once part of the Spanish Empire. They have enjoyed a century of cordial relations. Colombia and Paraguay maintain close cooperation ties in the fight against terrorism and criminal groups.
Both nations are members of the Community of Latin American and the Caribbean States, Latin American Integration Association, Organization of American States, and the Organization of Ibero-American States.
